ANIMALS. 28 1 



the dog, are of this kind ; they pursue with patience rather than swift- 

 ness ; their prey flies at first, and leaves them for miles behind ; but 

 they keep on with a constant steady pace, and excite each other by a 

 general spirit of industry and emulation, till at last they share the 

 common plunder. But it too often happens, that the larger beasts of 

 prey, when they hear a cry of this kind begun, pursue the pack, and 

 when they have hunted down the animal, come in and monopolize the 

 spoil. This has given rise to the report of the jackall's being the 

 lion's provider ; when the reality is, that the jackall hunts for itself, 

 and the lion is an unwelcome intruder upon the fruit of his toil. 



Nevertheless, with all the powers which carnivorous animals are 

 possessed of, they generally lead a life of famine and fatigue. Their 

 prey has such a variety of methods for escaping, that they sometimes 

 continue without food for a fortnight together : but nature has endowed 

 them with a degree of patience equal to the severity of their state ; 

 so that as their subsistence is precarious, their appetites are comply- 

 ing. They usually seize their prey with a roar, either of seeming de- 

 light, or perhaps to terrify it from resistance. They frequently de- 

 vour it, bones and all, in the most ravenous manner ; and then retire 

 to their dens, continuing inactive till the calls of hunger again excite 

 their courage and industry. But as all their methods of pursuit are 

 counteracted by the arts of evasion, they often continue to range with- 

 out success, supporting a state of famine for several days, nay, some- 

 times weeks together. Of their prey, some find protection in holes, 

 in which nature has directed them to bury themselves; some find 

 safety by swiftness ; and surh as are possessed of neither of these ad- 

 vantages, generally herd together, and endeavour to repel invasion by 

 united force. The very sheep, which to us seem so defenceless, are 

 by no means so in a state of nature ; they are furnished with arms of 

 defence, and a very great degree of swiftness ; but they are still fur 

 ther assisted by their spirit of mutual defence : the females fall into 

 the centre ; and the males, forming a ring round them, oppose their 

 horns to the assailants. Some animals that feed upon fruits which are 

 to be found only at one time of the year, fill their holes with several 

 sorts of plants, which enable them to lie concealed during the hard 

 frosts of the winter, contented with their prison, since it affords them 

 plenty and protection. These holes are dug with so much art, that 

 there seems the design of an architect in the formation. There are 

 usually two apertures, by one of which the little inhabitant can always 

 escape, when the enemy is in possession of the other. Many creatures 

 are equally careful of avoiding their enemies, by placing a sentinel to 

 warn them of the approach of danger. These generally perform this 

 duty by turns ; and they know how to punish such as have neglected 

 'heir post, or have been unmindful of the common safety. Such are 

 a part of the efforts that the weaker races of quadrupeds exert, 1o 

 avoid their invaders ; and, in general, they are attended with success. 

 The arts of instinct are most commonly found an overmatch for the 

 invasions of instinct. Man is the only creature against whom all their 

 little tricks cannot prevail. Wherever he has spread his dominion r 

 scarce any flight can save, or any retreat harbour ; wherever he com\;s, 

 terror seems to follow, and all society ceases among the inferior te 



